JP2011207026A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an ink consumption amount in a recording apparatus performing a flushing operation before a recording jetting operation.SOLUTION: As shown in an example in table 1, the larger the sum of the amount of jetting of ink droplets is in the first continuous three driving periods in the recording jetting operation, the less the amount of total discharging of the ink is in the flushing operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the plurality of nozzles formed in the ink jet are divided into four nozzle groups arranged in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and at the time of printing, from the nozzles constituting each nozzle group, High-quality printing is realized by ejecting ink droplets onto the same area of the recording medium. At this time, immediately before the first ink droplet is ejected from the nozzles constituting each nozzle group, preliminary maintenance (flushing operation) is performed to discharge the thickened ink in the nozzles, and maintenance of the nozzles is performed. The ink ejection state from the above is made good.

JP 2004-1416 A

  However, as in Patent Document 1, in order to perform maintenance of the nozzle only by the flushing operation performed immediately before printing, it is necessary to eject a certain amount of ink from the nozzle in the flushing operation, and it is not used for printing. Ink consumption will increase.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of maintaining nozzles while minimizing the consumption of ink not used for printing.

  A recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a droplet ejecting head that ejects liquid from a plurality of nozzles as droplets, and a control unit that controls the droplet ejecting head, wherein the control unit includes the droplet A recording ejection operation in which the ejection head ejects droplets from the plurality of nozzles toward the recording medium every predetermined driving cycle, and droplets are ejected from the plurality of nozzles before the recording ejection operation. The flushing operation for performing maintenance of the plurality of nozzles is performed, and when each droplet is ejected in the first driving cycle in the recording ejection operation, the flushing operation is performed more than when no droplet is ejected. The total discharge amount of the liquid is reduced.

  According to the present invention, when each droplet is ejected in the first drive cycle of the recording ejection operation performed immediately after the flushing operation, the amount of liquid discharged in the flushing operation is smaller than when no droplet is ejected. Thus, in addition to the ejection of droplets in the flushing operation, the recording ejection operation that also serves as maintenance of the nozzle is performed by ejecting the droplets in the first drive cycle for recording. That is, in the flushing operation, the droplet ejecting head ejects the droplet, and when the droplet is ejected in the first driving cycle of the recording ejection operation, the droplet is ejected continuously after the flushing operation. Even if the maintenance of the nozzle is incomplete, it is possible to eject the droplet although it is an incomplete droplet in the recording ejection operation. On the other hand, if droplets are not ejected in the first drive cycle of the recording ejection operation, there will be a time when the droplets are not ejected until the recording ejection operation is performed after the flushing operation is completed, and maintenance of the nozzles is incomplete. In some cases, depending on the time during which the droplets are not ejected, the droplets may not be ejected normally in the subsequent recording ejection operation. Therefore, in the nozzle from which droplets are ejected in the first drive cycle of the recording ejection operation, the maintenance of the nozzle can be performed while reducing the liquid consumption.

A recording apparatus according to a second invention is the recording apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the control means is
In the recording ejection operation, one of a plurality of types of droplets having different total liquid amounts ejected from the plurality of nozzles during one driving cycle is selectively ejected, and the recording ejection operation is performed at each nozzle. In the first drive cycle, the liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation is decreased as the liquid droplet having a larger liquid amount is ejected.

  When the droplet ejection in the first drive cycle is also used for nozzle maintenance, the droplet ejection contributes greatly to nozzle maintenance as the droplet with a large amount of liquid is ejected in the first drive cycle. Will be. That is, when ejecting droplets with a large amount of liquid, compared to ejecting droplets with a small amount of liquid, a large amount of energy is imparted to the liquid in the droplet ejecting head, resulting in incomplete nozzle maintenance. Even if it is, droplets are more likely to be ejected normally from the nozzle as greater energy is applied. Therefore, in the present invention, the amount of liquid consumption can be further reduced by reducing the total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation as the liquid droplet having a larger liquid amount is ejected in the first driving cycle.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control means is configured to perform the initial operation when each of the nozzles has the same droplet ejection mode in the first driving cycle. The total discharge amount of the liquid in the flushing operation is reduced as the sum of the ejection amounts of the droplets ejected in each of the plurality of predetermined consecutive driving cycles including the driving cycle is larger. To do.

  When droplet ejection in a plurality of predetermined continuous driving cycles including the first driving cycle is used for maintenance of the nozzle, the above-described plurality of drivings are performed if the droplet ejection mode in the first driving cycle is the same. As the total amount of droplets ejected in each driving cycle of the cycle increases, the droplet ejection in the plurality of driving cycles greatly contributes to nozzle maintenance.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the amount of liquid consumption is reduced by reducing the total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation as the total amount of droplets ejected in each of the plurality of drive cycles increases. Can be reduced.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the control means at each nozzle includes a total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation and the plurality of drive cycles in the recording ejection operation. The sum of the total ejection amount of the droplets ejected during the period is equal to or larger than the maximum liquid amount that can be discharged in the flushing operation, and the total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation is among them. The flushing operation is performed so as to be minimized.

  According to the present invention, a sufficient amount of liquid (the maximum liquid that can be discharged in the flushing operation) to perform maintenance of the nozzles before the plurality of driving cycles elapses regardless of the ink droplet ejection mode in the recording ejection operation. More than the amount of liquid droplets can be ejected, and the amount of liquid consumption can be minimized.

  A recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention is the recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the control means ejects a droplet having the maximum liquid amount among the plurality of types of droplets ejected in the recording ejection operation. In this case, the flushing operation is performed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to eject liquid droplets and eject liquid during the flushing operation by the same operation as the ejection operation performed by the droplet ejection head during the recording ejection operation.

  A recording apparatus according to a sixth invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the control means causes the recording ejection operation to be performed twice, of the two recording ejection operations. The flushing operation is performed between the previous recording ejection operation and the subsequent recording ejection operation, and when each droplet is ejected in the last drive cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the droplet is The total discharge amount of the liquid in the flushing operation is reduced as compared with the case where the liquid is not ejected.

  According to the present invention, when a flushing operation is performed between two recording ejection operations, when a droplet is ejected in the last driving cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the nozzle is ejected by the droplet ejection in the flushing operation. Since the maintenance of the nozzle is also performed by the ejection of the ink droplets in the last driving cycle before the maintenance is performed, in such a case, by reducing the total discharge amount of the liquid in the flushing operation, Maintenance of the nozzle can be performed while reducing the amount of liquid consumption.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein, when the control means has not ejected droplets at each nozzle in the last drive cycle of the previous recording ejection operation. Is characterized in that the shorter the period during which no droplets are ejected, the smaller the total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation.

  Even if the droplets are not ejected in the last drive cycle of the previous recording ejection operation, if the droplets are ejected in the previous drive cycle, the nozzle is also maintained by the ejection of the ink droplets. In this case, the shorter the period during which no liquid droplets are ejected, the greater the ink droplet ejection contributes to nozzle maintenance.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the droplets are not ejected in the last drive cycle of the previous recording ejection operation, the total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation is reduced as the period during which the droplets are not ejected is shorter. By doing so, the consumption of liquid can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, in each nozzle, when droplets are ejected in the first drive cycle of the recording ejection operation performed immediately after the flushing operation, the total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation is greater than when no droplets are ejected. In addition to ejecting droplets in the flushing operation, the nozzle is also maintained by ejecting droplets in the first drive cycle for recording, thereby reducing liquid consumption. The maintenance of the nozzle can be performed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the control apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 (recording apparatus) includes a carriage 2, an inkjet head 3, a paper transport roller 4, a waste liquid form 5, and the like. The operation of the printer 1 is controlled by the control device 20.

  The carriage 2 is guided by the guide shaft 6 and reciprocates in the scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1). The inkjet head 3 is disposed on the lower surface of the carriage 2 and ejects ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles 15 formed on the lower surface. The paper transport roller 4 transports the recording paper P (recording medium) in the paper feeding direction (downward in FIG. 1) perpendicular to the scanning direction.

  In the printer 1, ink droplets are ejected onto the recording paper P conveyed in the paper feeding direction by the paper conveying roller 4 from the inkjet head 3 that reciprocates in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2 at every predetermined driving cycle. Then, printing is performed on the recording paper P. Note that, during printing, the operation of ejecting ink droplets at predetermined drive cycles in the inkjet head 3 corresponds to the recording ejection operation according to the present invention.

  The waste liquid form 5 is disposed so as to face the plurality of nozzles 15 in a state where the carriage 2 is moved to the left in FIG. As will be described later, the nozzle 15 is ejected from the plurality of nozzles 15 with the carriage 2 being moved to this position immediately before or during printing, by ejecting ink droplets similar to those ejected during printing. It is possible to perform a flushing operation for maintaining the nozzle 15 such as discharging the thickened ink. At this time, since the flushing operation is performed by ejecting the same ink droplets as ejected at the time of printing, the flushing operation is performed in the inkjet head 3 by the same operation as the recording ejecting operation. Can do.

  Next, the control device 20 that controls the printer 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device 20.

  The control device 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 20 includes the print control unit 21 and the flushing. It functions as the control unit 22.

  The print control unit 21 controls operations of the carriage 2, the inkjet head 3, and the paper transport roller 4 during printing based on print data input from the outside. The flushing control unit 22 controls the operations of the carriage 2 and the inkjet head 4 during the flushing operation, as will be described later, based on the input print data.

  Next, a flushing operation that is performed immediately before printing (recording ejection operation) in the printer 1 will be described. Table 1 shows the first three drive cycles of the recording ejection operation and the ink droplet ejection mode in the flushing operation performed immediately before in Examples 1a to 1f when the flushing operation is performed immediately before printing. ing. In Table 1 and Table 2 described later, “◯” indicates that ink droplets are ejected, and “−” indicates that ink droplets are not ejected.

  As shown in Table 1, in this embodiment, the flushing operation is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles 15 in five consecutive flushing cycles. The amount of ink discharged when ink droplets are ejected in all of the above five flushing cycles is the ink thickened from the nozzles 15 regardless of any conditions such as the period during which printing is not performed before the flushing operation. Is sufficiently discharged, and the ink droplets can be ejected normally from the nozzle 15 after the flushing operation, that is, the ink amount is sufficient to maintain the nozzle 15 sufficiently.

  Therefore, if the flushing operation is performed by ejecting ink droplets uniformly from the nozzles 15 in all the five flushing cycles before printing, the maintenance of the nozzles 15 can be sufficiently performed. However, when the nozzle 15 is sufficiently maintained by only the flushing operation as described above, the amount of ink consumption increases.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the Example 1a and Example 1d, Example 1b and Example 1e, and Example 1c and Example 1f in Table 1 are compared, respectively, the recording ejection operation is performed at each nozzle 15. When the ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle, the number of flushing cycles for ejecting the ink droplets among the above five flushing cycles is reduced compared to the case where the ink droplets are not ejected. In addition to ink droplet ejection in the flushing operation, the maintenance of the nozzle 15 is also performed by ink droplet ejection in the first drive cycle for printing. That is, in the flushing operation, as in the recording ejection operation, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 15, and when the droplets are ejected in the first drive cycle of the recording ejection operation, the ink is continued after the flushing operation. Since the droplets are ejected, even if the maintenance of the nozzle 15 in the flushing operation is incomplete, the ink can be ejected although it is an incomplete ink droplet in the recording ejection operation. On the other hand, when ink droplets are not ejected in the first driving cycle of the recording ejection operation, the time during which the ink droplets are not ejected is long after the flushing operation is completed until the recording ejection operation is performed. If the maintenance is incomplete, the ink droplets may not be ejected normally in the subsequent recording ejection operation depending on the time during which the ink droplets are not ejected. Accordingly, in the nozzle 15 from which ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle of the recording ejection operation, the maintenance of the nozzle 15 is also performed by the ejection of ink droplets in the first driving cycle for printing, and in the flushing operation. Maintenance of the nozzle 15 can be performed while reducing ink consumption. At this time, since the nozzle gradually approaches a complete state every time it is ejected from the first driving cycle, even if incomplete ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle, the image recorded on the recording paper P Quality degradation is not noticeable.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as can be seen by comparing Examples 1a to 1c and Examples 1d to 1f in Table 1, whether or not ink droplets are ejected in the first drive cycle (initial drive). In the case where the ink droplet ejection mode in the cycle is the same, the larger the sum of the ejection amounts of the ink droplets ejected in three consecutive drive cycles including the first drive cycle, the greater the total amount of ink in the flushing operation. Emissions are reduced.

  As a result, the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation in each nozzle 15 and the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the above three driving cycles is added to the above 5 in the flushing operation of each nozzle 15. This is the amount of ink discharged when ink droplets are ejected in all of the flushing cycles (the maximum amount of ink that can be discharged in the flushing operation, hereinafter referred to as the maximum flushing amount).

  When ink droplets are ejected in the above three driving cycles, the nozzles are also ejected in the three driving cycles for printing in addition to ejecting ink droplets in the flushing operation, as described above. 15 maintenance operations can be performed. Further, in this case, as the total amount of ink droplet ejection in the above three driving cycles increases, the ink droplet ejection in these driving cycles greatly contributes to the maintenance of the nozzle 15. Therefore, as the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three driving cycles increases, the ink consumption can be further reduced by reducing the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation.

  Furthermore, the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the ejection amounts of the ink droplets in the three driving cycles is the same as the maximum flushing amount. Regardless of whether or not the ejection is performed or the number of ejections (ink droplet ejection mode in the three driving cycles), the nozzle 15 is sufficient for maintenance before the three driving cycles elapse. An amount of ink can be ejected. In addition, since more ink droplets than the maximum flushing amount are not ejected before the three driving cycles elapse, the ink consumption can be minimized.

  Next, when printing on a plurality of recording sheets P, when performing a flushing operation every time printing on a predetermined number of recording sheets P is completed, or when printing on one recording sheet P, A description will be given of a case where the flushing operation is performed between the two recording ejection operations, for example, when the flushing operation is performed every time the movement in each scanning direction is finished or every time the movement in the plurality of scanning directions is finished.

  When the flushing operation is performed between the two recording ejection operations, the ink droplet ejection is performed in the last three consecutive driving cycles of the recording ejection operation (previous recording ejection operation) performed immediately before the flushing operation. The ink ejection amount in the flushing operation is changed according to the mode and the ink droplet ejection mode in the first three consecutive driving cycles of the recording ejection operation (subsequent recording ejection operation) performed immediately after the flushing operation.

  Here, the relationship between the ink droplet ejection mode in the first three consecutive driving cycles of the subsequent recording ejection operation and the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation is the same as that in the above-described 3 of the first recording ejection operation. Since the relationship between the driving cycle and the total ink discharge amount in the immediately preceding flushing operation is the same, detailed description is omitted here, and ink droplets in the last three consecutive driving cycles of the previous recording ejection operation are omitted. The relationship between the ejection mode and the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation will be described.

  Table 2 shows the last three consecutive drive cycles (nth, n−1th, and second) of the previous recording ejection operation in Examples 2a to 2d in which the flushing operation is performed between the two recording ejection operations. n-2th driving cycle), 5 flushing cycles of the flushing operation, and ink droplet ejection modes in the first three consecutive driving cycles of the subsequent recording ejection operation. In each of Examples 2a to 2d in Table 2, ink droplets are ejected only in the first driving cycle among the first three consecutive driving cycles in the subsequent recording ejection operation. That is, in Examples 2a to 2d, the ink droplet ejection mode in the first driving cycle is the same.

  As can be seen from a comparison between Example 2a and Examples 2b to 2d in Table 2, in this embodiment, ink droplets are ejected in the last (nth) driving cycle in the previous recording ejection operation. The number of flushing cycles for ejecting ink droplets among the five flushing cycles (ink discharge amount in the flushing operation) is made smaller than when no ink droplets are ejected.

  When ink droplets are ejected in the last drive cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the time until the maintenance of the nozzle 15 by the ejection of ink droplets in the flushing operation is short. That is, as the time during which ink is not ejected from the nozzles 15 is longer, the viscosity of the ink increases with the passage of time, but when ink droplets are ejected in the last drive cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the flushing operation starts. The degree of thickening of the ink is small. Therefore, in such a case, maintenance of the nozzle 15 can be performed while reducing the ink consumption by reducing the total amount of ink discharged in the flushing operation.

  Further, as can be seen by comparing Examples 2b to 2d, when ink droplets are not ejected in the last drive cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, a period in which ink droplets are not ejected before the flushing operation. Is shorter, the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation is reduced.

  Even if ink droplets are not ejected in the last driving cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, if ink droplets are ejected in the previous driving cycle, ink droplets from the ejection of the ink droplets to before the flushing operation The shorter the period during which no ink is ejected, the smaller the degree of ink thickening.

  Therefore, when ink droplets are not ejected in the last drive cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the shorter the period during which no ink droplets are ejected, the smaller the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation, Maintenance of the nozzle 15 can be performed while reducing ink consumption.

  Next, modified examples in which various changes are made to the present embodiment will be described. However, components having the same configuration as in the present embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, in addition to whether or not ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle, the total ejection amount of ink in the flushing operation is determined by the sum of ink droplet ejection amounts in the first three consecutive driving cycles. However, the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation may be changed only depending on whether or not ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle.

  In the embodiment, only one type of ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of types of ink droplets may be ejected from the nozzle 15. For example, in Examples 3a to 3d in Table 3, any one of three types of ink droplets having different ink amounts from the nozzle 15 (hereinafter referred to as large droplets, medium droplets, and small droplets in descending order of ink amount) is used. When gradation control is performed by performing a recording ejection operation by selectively ejecting, a large droplet (the ink droplet having the maximum ejection amount among the three types of ink droplets ejected in the recording ejection operation). ) Is caused to perform a flushing operation. Note that “large”, “medium”, and “small” in Table 3 indicate that large droplets, medium droplets, and small droplets are ejected, respectively.

  As in the case of the embodiment, when the ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle, the number of flushing cycles in which the ink droplets are ejected out of the five flushing cycles (when the ink droplets are not ejected) ( The total amount of ink discharged in the flushing operation) is reduced.

  Further, when ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle and the ejected ink droplet is a small droplet, the amount of ink discharged in the flushing operation is maximized. Also, when the ejected ink droplet is a medium droplet, the amount of ink discharged in the flushing operation is reduced compared to the case of a small droplet, and when the ejected ink droplet is a large droplet, it is a medium droplet. Furthermore, the amount of ink discharged in the flushing operation is minimized. That is, the more ink droplets are ejected, the smaller the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation.

  When ink droplets are ejected in the first drive cycle, the greater the amount of ejected ink droplets, the greater the ink droplet ejection contributes to maintenance of the nozzle 15. Therefore, as the amount of ejected ink droplets in the first driving cycle increases, the total amount of ink discharged in the flushing operation is reduced, thereby reducing the ink consumption and ensuring the maintenance of the nozzle 15. Can be done.

  Also in this case, since the flushing operation is performed by ejecting the same large droplets that are ejected in the recording ejection operation, in the inkjet head 3, by the same operation as that performed during the recording ejection operation, A flushing operation can be performed. That is, when ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles 15, it is not necessary to perform control different from the recording ejection operation for the flushing operation, and the control is simplified.

  In Examples 3a to 3d in Table 3, the ink discharge amount in the flushing operation is changed only by the ink droplet ejection amount in the first driving cycle. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The ink discharge amount in the flushing operation may be changed according to the ink droplet ejection mode in a plurality of consecutive drive periods.

  For example, in addition to the embodiments 3a to 3d in Table 3, whether or not ink droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle and the amount of ink when ejected (the amount of ink droplets in the first driving cycle) When the ejection mode is the same, the total ejection amount of the ink in the flushing operation is reduced as the total ejection amount of the ink droplets ejected during the first three consecutive driving cycles is larger.

  However, in this case, since three types of ink droplets having different ink amounts are selectively ejected from the nozzle 15 in the recording ejection operation, in the case of Examples 1a to 1d of Table 1 according to the above-described embodiment Unlike the above, the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three driving cycles is not divisible by the large droplet ink amount, and the total ink ejection amount in the flushing operation and the ink droplet ejection amount in the three driving cycles are It is possible that the sum of the total and the total flushing amount cannot be made the same.

  Therefore, for example, only when possible, the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three driving cycles is the same as the maximum flushing amount. Perform a flushing operation. On the other hand, if this is not possible, the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three driving cycles is greater than the maximum flushing amount, and The flushing operation is performed so that the number of ejection cycles for ejecting ink droplets (total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation) among the five flushing cycles is minimized.

  That is, the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three driving cycles is equal to or greater than the maximum flushing amount. The flushing operation is performed so that the total discharge amount is minimized.

  Alternatively, unlike the cases of Examples 3a to 3d in Table 3, the flushing operation is performed by selectively ejecting any one of the three types of ink droplets ejected in the recording ejection operation. By changing the type of ink droplets ejected in the flushing operation in accordance with the total amount of ink droplets ejected in one drive cycle, the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the ink droplets in the three drive cycles The flushing operation may be performed so that the sum of the total injection amounts is equal to the maximum flushing amount.

  Even in these cases, the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three driving cycles is equal to or greater than the maximum flushing amount. Regardless of the ink droplet ejection mode in the cycle, the maximum flushing amount of ink can be ejected and the ink consumption in the flushing operation can be minimized until the above three driving cycles have elapsed. .

  In the above, the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three drive cycles immediately after the three drive cycles is equal to or greater than the maximum flushing amount. Of these, the flushing operation is performed so that the total amount of ink discharged in the flushing operation is minimized, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the sum of the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the three driving cycles is equal to or greater than the maximum flushing amount, the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation is , It does not have to be the smallest among them.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the flushing operation is performed between the two recording ejection operations, the ink droplets are not ejected in the last driving cycle in the previous recording ejection operation. Although the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation is reduced as the period during which ejection is not performed is shorter, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when ink droplets are not ejected in the last drive cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the last drive in the previous recording ejection operation in the flushing operation regardless of the period during which no ink droplets are ejected. A certain amount of ink larger than when ink droplets are ejected in a cycle may be discharged.

  In the above, the total ink discharge amount in the flushing operation is reduced as the sum of the ink droplet ejection amounts in the first three consecutive driving cycles in the recording ejection operation is larger. Absent. For example, the ink discharge amount in the flushing operation is decreased as the ejection amount of the ink droplets ejected in the first two consecutive driving cycles or in the first four or more consecutive driving cycles is larger. Also good. Further, although the flushing operation is performed in five cycles, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the maximum flushing amount can be changed in accordance with the diameter and length of the nozzle 15, the viscosity and moisture content of the ink, or the environmental temperature, and the number of flushing operation cycles that meet these conditions is selected. be able to. In accordance with the number of cycles of the flushing operation, the number of first continuous drive cycles in the recording ejection operation can be changed as appropriate.

  In the above description, the flushing operation is performed by ejecting the same ink droplets that are ejected from the nozzle 15 in the recording ejection operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the flushing operation may be performed by ejecting an ink droplet having an ink amount different from that of the ink droplet ejected in the recording ejection operation, such as an ink droplet having a larger amount of ink than the ink droplet ejected in the recording ejection operation. .

  In the above, the flushing operation is performed by ejecting ink droplets toward the waste liquid form 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. When recording on the recording paper P, a flushing operation may be performed by ejecting ink droplets toward an inconspicuous area.

  In the above description, the example in which the present invention is applied to a printer having a so-called serial type ink jet head that performs printing on the recording paper P by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles while reciprocating in the scanning direction has been described. For example, the present invention can be applied to a printer that includes a so-called line head that extends over the entire length of the recording paper P in the width direction and ejects ink droplets without moving.

  In the above description, an example in which the present invention is applied to a printer having an ink jet head that ejects ink droplets from nozzles has been described. However, the liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes a head that ejects droplets from nozzles. The present invention can be applied to any apparatus that performs a maintenance operation for performing maintenance.

1 Printer 3 Inkjet Head 15 Nozzle 20 Control Device

Claims (7)

A droplet ejection head that ejects liquid as droplets from a plurality of nozzles;
Control means for controlling the droplet ejection head,
The control means includes
In the droplet ejecting head,
A recording ejection operation for ejecting liquid droplets from the plurality of nozzles toward the recording medium every predetermined driving cycle;
Before the recording jetting operation, a flushing operation is performed in which droplets are jetted from the plurality of nozzles to maintain the plurality of nozzles,
In each of the nozzles, when the droplets are ejected in the first driving cycle in the recording ejection operation, the total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation is made smaller than when the droplets are not ejected. apparatus. The control means includes
In the recording ejection operation, the liquid droplets that are ejected from the plurality of nozzles during one driving cycle are selectively ejected from a plurality of types of liquid droplets that are different from each other,
2. The total discharge amount of liquid in the flushing operation is decreased in each nozzle as the droplet having a larger amount of liquid is ejected in the first driving cycle in the recording ejection operation. Recording device. The control means includes
In each nozzle, when the droplet ejection mode in the first driving cycle is the same, the ejection amount of the droplet ejected in each of the predetermined consecutive driving cycles including the first driving cycle 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the total discharge amount of the liquid in the flushing operation is decreased as the total is larger. The control means includes
For each nozzle, the sum of the liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation and the sum of the droplet discharge amounts ejected during the plurality of drive cycles in the recording jetting operation is discharged in the flushing operation. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flushing operation is performed so as to be equal to or greater than a maximum amount of liquid that can be performed and in which the amount of liquid discharged in the flushing operation is minimized. The control means is
The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the flushing operation is performed by ejecting a droplet having a maximum liquid amount among the plurality of types of droplets ejected in the recording ejection operation. The control means is
The recording jetting operation is performed twice,
Of the two recording ejection operations, the flushing operation is performed between the previous recording ejection operation and the subsequent recording ejection operation,
In each nozzle, when droplets are ejected in the last driving cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the amount of liquid discharged in the flushing operation is reduced compared to the case where droplets are not ejected. The recording apparatus according to claim 1. The control means is
In each nozzle, when a droplet is not ejected in the last driving cycle in the previous recording ejection operation, the amount of liquid discharged in the flushing operation is reduced as the period during which the droplet is not ejected is shorter. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

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